Sarah Palin's Son on Divorce Track, But Must Watch Video First

By Deanne Katz, Esq. on December 12, 2012 11:58 AM

Calling all single Alaskan ladies: It looks like Track Palin, Sarah Palin's son, is headed for divorce.

Track and his soon-to-be ex-wife filed for divorce this week. The couple married in 2011 and they have a 1-year-old little girl named Kyla. Track, 23, is the oldest of Sarah Palin's children and is an Army Reservist, just so you know ladies.

Perhaps more interesting than the news of Track's divorce is what it's revealed about Alaska's divorce laws, since that's where the papers were filed.

The first interesting fact is that Alaska has a mechanism for couples to signify that they've figured out property and custody issues without the court's help.

In general, courts encourage divorcing couples to reach a settlement on their own or with the help of attorneys. Having the court divide assets can leave everyone unhappy.

Aside from the streamlined process, the couple also has an unusual requirement to fulfill. Before finalizing a divorce, Alaskan couples with children must watch a video, according to the Alaska court system.

The 48-minute film entitled "Listen to the Children" describes the impact divorce can have on kids.

Courts are allowed to impose reasonable requirements on couples with children as part of granting a divorce order. That generally means drug or alcohol counseling, or even anger management classes before allowing shared custody or visitation.

Alaska's strategy is a little unusual, but it doesn't appear to place an unreasonable burden on couples. If divorcing parents don't want to watch the 48-minute film, they can opt instead to take an online class called "Children in Between."

Track Palin's divorce means that soon all the Palin children will be single again. Alaska: Watch out.